Department of Health and Social Care

Liothyronine

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they haveevidence showing that there are more cost-effective products available than liothyronine for the treatment of thyroid disease; and if so, whether they will publish that evidence.

lord o'shaughnessy: NHS England have sought advice from the leading clinical experts in this field. These are the Royal College of Physicians, the British Thyroid Association and the European Thyroid Association. These experts recommend that, for the vast majority of patients, levothyroxine alone is used in the treatment of hypothyroidism. They also advise that liothyronine should be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Department for International Development

Religious Freedom

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they assess partners’ commitment to UK Partnership Principles and to promoting freedom of religion or belief when determining the funding of governments and organisations.

lord bates: In determining UKAid funding to governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the level and the manner of aid provision. DFID contractual and grant arrangements used for organisations other than governments include specific clauses to prevent any discrimination against protected characteristics, including religion or belief.

Department for Education

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

lord farmer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they haveto retain the requirement in section 148 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, that pupils learn about the nature of marriage and importance for family life and the bringing up of children, when they lay regulations under section 34 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017 which provide for all schools in England to teach relationship education.

lord agnew of oulton: The government agrees that pupils need to understand the nature of marriage and its importance. We expect that the regulations and guidance will reflect fully the value of strong and stable relationships based on commitment, including marriage and civil partnerships. The government legislated via the Children and Social Work Act 2017 to place a duty on the Secretary of State for Education to make Relationships Education at primary school and Relationships and Sex Education at secondary school mandatory through regulations. These subjects will cover the core, age-appropriate knowledge that all children need to form safe, positive relationships based on respect and to prepare them for adult life, which includes family life. The Department for Education is conducting a thorough and wide-ranging engagement with stakeholders, including a call for evidence, to help inform the development of the regulations as well as accompanying statutory guidance for all schools. The department will then consult on the draft regulations and guidance before they are debated in the House.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animals: Disease Control

baroness redfern: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they spent in the 2016–17 financial year on biosecurity measures relating to animal diseases and pests, broken down by (1) policy functions, (2) inspectorate functions, (3) technical support functions (for example, risk assessments and diagnostics), (4) response functions (including control activities), (5) research, and (6) total budget.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) spent £200m on animal diseases in 2016/17 including both direct costs and apportioned support staff and overheads. APHA do not keep the split as requested but can further subdivide the cost between direct costs (£117m) and apportioned support staff and overheads (£83m).

Bees: Disease Control

baroness redfern: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they spent in the 2016–17 financial year on biosecurity measures relating to bee diseases and pests, broken down by (1) policy functions, (2) inspectorate functions, (3) technical support functions (for example, risk assessments and diagnostics), (4) response functions (including control activities), (5) research, and (6) total budget.

lord gardiner of kimble: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) spent £2.8m on bee diseases in 2016/17 including both direct costs and apportioned support staff and overheads. APHA do not keep the split as requested but can further subdivide the cost between direct costs (£1.6m) and apportioned support staff and overheads (£1.2m).

Home Office

Asylum: Children

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they have allocated to organisations dedicated to helping unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office provides funding to all local authorities who look after unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). The national rate is £41,610 per annum for under 16 year olds and £33,215 per annum for 16 and 17 year olds. We also provide local authorities with £200 per week for former UASC who turn 18 and qualify for leaving care support. These rates were increased significantly in July 2016 by 20%, 28% and 33% respectively.The Home Office provides funding to the Refugee Council to support UASC through the Children’s Panel. The role of the Children’s Panel is to advise and assist unaccompanied children through the asylum process, and to support them in their interactions with the Home Office and other central and local government agencies. Children making an asylum claim in their own right are also eligible for assistance in the form of legal aid.

Asylum: Children

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much notice unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are given before (1) detention, and (2) deportation.

baroness williams of trafford: Unaccompanied children may only be detained in a very limited number of exceptional circumstances. Such detention is usually pending alternative care arrangements being made (with relatives or local authority children’s services), would be for the shortest possible time, and would not take place in an immigration removal centre.We do not return unaccompanied children with no lawful basis to remain in the UK, unless we can confirm there are safe and adequate reception arrangements in the country to which they will be returned.

Visas: Children

the lord bishop of gloucester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications were made on behalf of children for family reunion visas outside the rules due to exceptional circumstances, in (1) 2016, and (2) 2017; and of those, how many applications were successful.

baroness williams of trafford: Published statistics on visa applications in the Family category can be found online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/638590/entry-visas1-apr-jun-2017-tables.odsThe relevant information can be found in the attached table on Family Reunion Visas.



Family Reunion Visas Table 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 26 KB)

Hong Kong: Armed Forces

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 January (HL Deb, col 1020), how many Hong Kong servicemen have been given British nationality for crown service; how many such servicemen are eligible; andwhether they intend to allow any more of those who served tobe given British nationality,in line with the Armed Forces Military Covenant’s commitment to look after veterans for life.

baroness williams of trafford: The data requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate costThere are no plans to change current nationality requirements. In line with the Armed Forces Covenant, individuals and their families who enlisted and served in HM Forces are not disadvantaged as a result of that service.

Muslim Council of Britain

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether ministerial approval was given before Home Officeofficials met with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) to discuss the possibility of Home Office re-engagement; if so, which minister approved that meeting; and what were the names of the MCB members whom officials met.

baroness williams of trafford: Through its work to tackle and challenge extremism and prevent people from becoming radicalised, the Government meets with a wide range of organisations in order to safeguard individuals, families and communities from the harmful impacts of extremism and radicalisation. These organisations must be prepared to show leadership, point to solutions and challenge and confront extremist and terrorist ideologies and narratives whatever form they take.

Asylum: Mental Illness

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 29 January (HL5401), whether they are considering recording the number of asylum seekers who require treatment for mental illness.

baroness williams of trafford: There are currently no plans to record the numbers of asylum seekers who require treatment for mental illness. Although every opportunity is afforded to asylum seekers to disclose this information during the process, there is no obligation on their part to do soThe staff working with asylum seekers are trained to identify mental health concerns but are not medically trained to identify the need for treatment. Where mental health concern is identified, the asylum seeker is referred or signposted to medical or support services.

Asylum: Finance

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what aid is available for destitute asylum seekers who are not allowed to work and are not entitled to benefits.

baroness williams of trafford: Asylum seekers and their dependents who would otherwise be destitute are provided with a weekly cash allowance and free accommodation.

Cannabis: Screening

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 31 January (HL5018), what is their estimate of the length of time after ingesting cannabis that a person continues to test positive.

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 31 January (HL5018),what are the scientific and technical standards for their mobile drug screening technology; and how positive results are validated.

baroness williams of trafford: The Guide to Type Approval Procedures for Mobile Preliminary Drug Testing Devices used for Transport Law Enforcement in Great Britain contains a description of the requirements to be met for consideration of type approval for screening device. This is found at the following link :  www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-preliminary-drug-testing-devicesRoadside drug driving screeners provide an indication of delta-9-THC (the main active component in cannabis) present in a motorist’s system. Delta-9-THC metabolite of cannabis can remain detectable for up to several hours.Following a positive screening result for suspected drug driving, the police obtain two samples of blood for analysis. One sample is provided to the alleged offender, who can submit their sample for independent testing at a laboratory of their own choice. The police submit the other blood sample to an accredited laboratory for analysis in line with guidance on sample storage and delivery.



Mobile Preliminary Testing Devices Guide  
(PDF Document, 404.08 KB)

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the economic impact assessments on Brexit were commissioned; and for what purpose.

lord callanan: The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis which is constantly evolving to support our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis contributes to our exit negotiations with the EU, helps define our future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks. We have been clear the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work that is being carried out within government.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football: Clubs

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made on the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on the transfer of soccer players between clubs in the UK and the EU.

lord ashton of hyde: The Government recognises the contribution that international talent makes to UK sport. We are in continuing discussions with the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League to better understand the potential impacts and opportunities that our exit from the EU may bring for football, including in relation to changes to freedom of movement.